05112022 – John 10. 22-30
I am not sure “WHY” there are not more sermons on this particular promise.
And, WHAT AN AWESOME PROMISE, it is!
Maybe people find it “UNCOMFOTABLE.” I dunno.
Maybe it puts YOUR “FAITH on the line.”
“Perhaps” they DO NOT BELIEVE in “the words”…or they find it to be too OUTLANDISH. Too much of a stretch, for them. Or, simply NOT TRUE. THEY take no comfort in it.
Perchance they are uncertain, unsure, as far as “THEY THEMSELVES are concerned.”
“You know,” wavering about themselves, undecisive, or maybe, they just choose NOT TO VOICE their real thoughts or beliefs…for fear of ridicule or outright laughter…coming from others…
No one wants to be CHALLENGED for their personal beliefs and thoughts…
A lot of people are afraid of looking stupid. Or being outright REJECTED (by others) for their thoughts, their beliefs, their positions…and, their ideas…
People can be so hard on one another, so unforgiving…you KNOW they can! Including Christians. Some go so far as to say, Christians are THE WORST. The most JUDGMENTAL, of all.
For some it is all about “THEIR PERCEPTION.” Perception is everything, and their own perception is bad enough. HOW WE PERCEIVE or SEE OURSELVES. We can be really hard on ourselves sometimes…you KNOW THAT WE CAN…
“I give THEM eternal life,” Jesus says, “And THEY will never perish.” NEVER.
I think this one verse stands out. I think it is huge. I think it is critically important. How can you refuse such an offer? And yet some people do. They turn away. They run away. They want nothing to do with Jesus and his group of weirdo followers.
Imagine, that in some form or another, YOU will ALWAYS EXIST…
Eternal. Eternally. Forever. Always. Evermore. Perpetually. Indelibly. Permanently. Without question.
That is really “SOME PROMISE!”
I also know that there are “many individuals” that want this, truly want this “to be true,” ESPECIALLY “for those that they LOVE”…and “for those that they CARE ABOUT…” and HOLD DEAR…
Perhaps a MOTHER. A SIBLING. A SPOUSE. Or, a CHILD. A sainted AUNT, maybe! They deserve it. They were good people. They among ALL PEOPLE belong to this promise. But as for me. Eh!
What am I? Who am I? If ONLY you KNEW ME. I mean REALLY KNEW ME. I am undeserving. I am not that good. I am NOT like you. I am UNWORTHY. (There, I’ve said it.) What’s more-I believe it. I AM UNWORTHY!
God himself, the “Almighty One” would walk right past me, NEVER take notice, and would NEVER stop and acknowledge me. How could he? I mean, look at me! Look at my life…look at the mess I have made of things…OF MY LIFE. Not once, not twice, but continually…MANY TIMES.
YOU DO NOT KNOW, you are unaware, there are “all kinds of people out there,” who think that God is OPPOSED to them. He is AGAINST them. And ALWAYS HAS BEEN.. How could he NOT BE?
“That promise “of ETERNAL LIFE is meant for OTHERS. For the GOOD PEOPLE. For the FAITHFUL people.
But YOU…YOU are different. You are GOOD. You are “godfearing.” You are DESERVING. You are a BELIEVER…a follower. You have lived A BETTER LIFE, a more DESERVING LIFE than me. YOU have not botched everything up!
My life is and has been A SHAMBLES.
There are a GREAT MANY that think they are MUCH WORSE OFF than they really are! They ONLY DESERVE judgment and DIVINE RETRIBUTION. For THEM, there is NO HOPE..and NEVER has been. It is their perception.
God does not smile down upon them and never has. Karma will get them in the end. They will get what they deserve, out of this life…
NOT EVERYBODY is YOU. Not everybody BELIEVES. Not everybody TRIES to do what is right. Some of us, are TIRED and just DO NOT CARE.
And to them, God says…You are my child. Of course, I love you. Of course, I care. I have always acknowledged you. I have been with you every step of your lifes journey. I have seen you struggle. I have always been there for you. I have always loved you…without question. I have been at your side.
MY KINGDOM AWAITS.
You are not excluded. You are to be included. Embraced. Loved. My kingdom has always been big enough for one more. There is always room for you here.
When I said I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. I was speaking of you. I was speaking to you.
When I went to the cross of crucifixion, it was YOU that were on my mind.
I love you. And you are mine.
Amen.